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Chitral's economy shattered

CHITRAL, 25 Nov 08: Though not directly involved in the Army vs militants fighting as is going on in the neighborhood districts, Chitral nevertheless is facing the brunt of an inauspicious situation prevailing around it.

Chitralis normally almost hibernate in winters leaving their chores and businesses to the summer months. At this time of the year business activities would see a boom with trucks full of merchandise arriving from down country and traders engaging new shops and construction work of all sorts being initiated, but this year there is a pal of gloom in the bazaars and hardly any trucks are coming from down country due to curfews and road closures. What little is available in the markets are at highly inflated prices.

Chitralis, rather naively optimistic by nature, are comforting themselves with rumors afloat that big projects would be initiated here once the situation in the region stabilizes. Always dreaming of carrots and free lunches, life treads on with Chitralis, living a basic hand to mouth life, yet happy with it. --(CN report)

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